Show must go on
Sydney theatre hopeful government support on the way
When Wesley Colford learned the Highland Arts Theatre (HAT) had received five nominations for Robert Merritt Awards from Theatre Nova Scotia on Monday, he was so busy he had to find out about it through text messages from friends.
“I had a 12-hour day jumping from rehearsal to rehearsal to meeting and in the middle of it, I was going to teach a class and I got texts from five different friends saying you got nominated for five Merritt awards which I had completely forgotten were even being announced yesterday,” said the Highland Arts Theatre’s artistic director on Tuesday. “We were very excited.”
But while it’s the best of times artistically, economically it’s the worst of times for the theatre company based in the historic former St. Andrew’s Church building in downtown Sydney. It should surprise no one that the province’s second-largest theatre company is up for awards but it is eye-opening to learn that it receives next to no funding despite producing awardworthy productions.
Most theatrical funding models are based on one-third of revenues from ticket sales, one third government funding through grants and one third through sponsorship and private donations.
In contrast, HAT’s budget in 2017 was 94 per cent funded through ticket revenue.
“We’ve had tremendous success artistically and we’ve had tremendous support from the community and we’ve established ourselves as a presence in the downtown but in all that success, we have a very unstable funding model,” admits Colford, who draws no salary despite his position.
If the theatre is to continue doing quality work, Colford says it needs to be considered as much for funding as its better-known counterparts such as Neptune, the only other theatre company in the province that is bigger.
In 2017, HAT received about $25,000 though Arts Nova Scotia and Canada Summer Jobs programs and $5,000 from the CBRM. Neptune received about $1.9 million of its $6.64 million budget from government sources. Other theatres smaller than HAT also received government money.
“So we’ve started a number of initiatives to really try to get the ball rolling on sources of funding,” says Colford. “We’re about to unveil a sponsorship program that offers a lot to businesses both locally or otherwise but also we’re really going after the government funding because for a theatre our size within Nova Scotia, most theatres are getting between $100,000 to $300,000 a year.
“I think last year we got $25,000 and most of that was summer student grants, for which we’re very grateful for. But there’s a lot more that needs to happen if the government believes in what we’re doing and thinks it’s important to the community, which we certainly do.”
Indeed, during the last theatre production held at the venue, a number of small fundraising projects were announced including the ubiquitous 50/50 draw and the sale of small items like mugs. But while every bit helps, more substantial sums are needed if the theatre is to remain open.
Colford appeared before Cape Breton Regional Municipality council in February to ask the municipality for a $50,000 operating grant, in hopes it might also encourage the provincial and federal governments to open their purses a little wider as well.
The Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay asked for $340,000 for a capital grant request from the CBRM to improve its structure as well as $100,000 in economic development 2018-19 grants to organizations.
Council is meeting this week on the budget and discussions are ongoing.
Colford says it’s important for politicians to realize that more than 90 per cent of what the Highland Arts Theatre generates goes back into the community. Most concessions and merchandise sold there is bought in the local area and local artists, technicians, bartenders, box office staff and others are being paid to work in the f acility.
“It’s a small amount to be asking for and it’s all going back into the community,” says Colford. “Right now it’s in their hands and we know it’s very tight but we’re really hoping they make it a priority because, as we said to them, if we don’t see some change and we don’t see the government coming on board I don’t know if we’ll be able to continue what we’re doing.
“Hopefully they recognize that.”